Photo: Camsjo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rome, Georgia, was named for its seven hills and is built where the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers meet to form the Coosa. It is a handsome small city about an hour and a half northwest of Atlanta, with a Victorian main street, a 19th-century water tower you can climb, the home of Cherokee leader Major Ridge and Berry College, whose 27,000-acre campus is the largest in the world. Here are the best things to do in Rome. We checked the details on October 21, 2026.
- From AtlantaAbout 70 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes without traffic
- CountyFloyd County
- Known forThree rivers, Berry College, Broad Street and the Clocktower
- Visitor infoWelcome centers at 402 Civic Center Dr. and 303 Broad St.
Top Things to Do in Rome
Rome ClocktowerClimb 107 steps
Chieftains MuseumMajor Ridge’s home
The Coosa RiverWhere two rivers meet
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0; National Trails Office (US National Park Service), public domain; National Trails Office (US National Park Service), public domain.
1. Berry College
At 27,000 acres, the world’s largest college campus, with English Gothic stone buildings funded by Henry and Clara Ford, the Old Mill and its 42-foot waterwheel, one of the largest in the world, and 88 miles of trails. Drive through, then stop at the Martha Berry Museum.
2. Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum
Martha Berry’s home and gardens on the Berry campus, with a free museum on how she founded the Berry Schools. The formal gardens were designed by Philadelphia landscape architect Robert Cridland.
3. Broad Street
One of the best-preserved Victorian main streets in Georgia, lined with local shops, restaurants and patios. It is the heart of the Between the Rivers Historic District.
4. The Clocktower
Built in 1871 as a water tower holding 250,000 gallons, with a clock and bell added by 1872. Climb the 107 steps inside for a view over downtown. Public tours run seasonally in April, May, June, September and October; groups by appointment at 706-235-8051.
5. Chieftains Museum / Major Ridge Home
The riverside home of Cherokee leader Major Ridge, a certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Open Wednesday through Saturday; call 706-291-9494 for hours and admission.
6. Rome Emperors baseball
The Atlanta Braves’ High-A affiliate plays at AdventHealth Stadium, a cheap, family-friendly night out in spring and summer.
Rivers and Trails
Three rivers run through Rome: the Etowah and Oostanaula meet downtown, at the foot of Myrtle Hill, to form the Coosa. A 16.7-mile greenway trail system follows the riverbanks through downtown, linking parks and river views.
Paddle the rivers
A popular easy trip floats about six miles from Dixon Landing at Grizzard Park to Heritage Park, about two and a half hours depending on wind and flow. Local outfitters such as River Ratz and The Canoe House rent kayaks and tubes.
Walk or bike the greenway
Paved paths along the rivers make an easy walk or ride from downtown, with bridges and river views along the way.
Myrtle Hill Cemetery
A hilltop cemetery overlooking the rivers, with Victorian monuments, terraced paths and the graves of Civil War soldiers.
Berry College trails
Miles of trails and quiet roads through the campus forests and fields, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists. Check the college’s rules for public use before you go.
See all of Georgia’s big rivers in our Georgia rivers guide.
History in Rome
Rome was part of the Cherokee Nation until the forced removal of the 1830s, and Major Ridge’s home tells that story. The city later became an industrial river town, and its downtown kept many of the brick buildings from that era. Our Georgia historic sites, Fort Oglethorpe to Rome list has more, and the Atlanta Campaign Civil War sites guide covers the battlefields to the east.
A One-Day Plan
| Time | Do this |
|---|---|
| Morning | Drive through Berry College and visit Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum |
| Lunch | Broad Street |
| Afternoon | Chieftains Museum, then a walk on the river greenway or a paddle on the Coosa |
| Evening | Dinner downtown, or a Rome Emperors game in season |
Nearby
Rome is a natural stop on the way to northwest Georgia’s mountains. Cloudland Canyon State Park and Rock City and Lookout Mountain are about an hour and a half north. Red Top Mountain State Park on Lake Allatoona and the Etowah Indian Mounds in Cartersville are on the way back to Atlanta, and the paved Silver Comet Trail runs through nearby Polk County. For more, see the best day trips from Atlanta.
Common Questions
What is Rome, Georgia known for?
Rome is known for its three rivers, its seven hills, the Victorian shops on Broad Street, the 1871 Clocktower and Berry College, the world’s largest college campus.
How far is Rome, GA from Atlanta?
About 70 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by car without traffic.
Can you visit Berry College?
Yes. Visitors can drive through the campus, see the Ford Buildings and the Old Mill, and tour Oak Hill and the Martha Berry Museum. Check the college’s rules for trail use.
Can you go inside the Rome Clocktower?
Yes, on seasonal public tours in April, May, June, September and October, when you can climb the 107 steps to the top. Groups can book tours by appointment.
Sources we checked
Facts on this page were checked against official sources on October 21, 2026. Hours and tour dates change, so confirm before you go:
- Berry College: campus acreage and trail miles; the Old Mill and Ford Buildings
- Greater Rome CVB: Clocktower: history, steps, tour season and welcome centers
- Chieftains Museum: hours and contact
- Greater Rome CVB: Rivers: paddle route and outfitters
- Rome Floyd Chamber: Blueways and Greenways: greenway trail mileage
Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.